Why do Japanese school girls wear sailor suits?

The sailor outfit (セーラー服, sērā-fuku?) is a common style of uniform worn by female middle school and high school students, and occasionally, elementary school students. It was introduced as a school uniform in 1920 in Heian Jogakuin (平安女学院?) and 1921 by the principal of Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University (福岡女学院?), Elizabeth Lee. It was modeled after the uniform used by the British Royal Navy at the time, which Lee had experienced as an exchange student in the United Kingdom

Much like the male uniform, the gakuran, the sailor outfit bears a similarity to various military styled naval uniforms. The uniform generally consists of a blouse attached with a sailor-style collar and a pleated skirt. There are seasonal variations for summer and winter: sleeve length and fabric are adjusted accordingly. A ribbon is tied in the front and laced through a loop attached to the blouse. Several variations on the ribbon include neckties, bolo ties, neckerchiefs, and bows. Common colors are navy blue, white, grey, light green and black.

Shoes, socks, and other accessories are sometimes included as part of the uniform. These socks are typically navy or white. The shoes are typically brown or black penny loafers. Although not part of the prescribed uniform, alternate forms of legwear (such as loose socks, knee-length stockings, or similar) are also commonly matched by more fashionable girls with their sailor outfits.

Images and more information used from wikipedia

So the style actually comes from England? That's interesting!

yeah well, it's the male school administrators who set the uniform policy and we know these guys are all into school girl sailor suits. ;-)

are you complaining? dont question the awesomeness.

I'm still curious if a girl ever dared to wear a boy's uniform, especially when winter comes.

Posted By Dori on 29 Apr 2010 11:03 AM
I'm still curious if a girl ever dared to wear a boy's uniform, especially when winter comes.

haha, no way!! If anything, the skirts get shorter in the winter at least for HS age.  Even the young boys wear shorts in the winter.  This is one Japanese custom I can't figure out, I feel so bad for these young kids shivering in the cold while mom is dressed up all nice & warm.

I read a poll in the Japan Times once about whether little boys should be allowed to wear long pants when it's cold. There were lots of answers, from "no, they're so cute in their shorts!" to "yes, it's freezing and they should be allowed long pants!" Never once did I hear anything about the poor GIRLS in their SHORT SKIRTS being allowed to wear something warmer in the winter!

I had heard that the reason for the sailor uniforms for girls and the Prussian jackets for boys was because after WWI, England's school system was supposedly considered the best in the world, and the Japanese wanted to emulate the best of Western academic traditions.

Posted By Carolie on 30 Apr 2010 03:45 AM

I had heard that the reason for the sailor uniforms for girls and the Prussian jackets for boys was because after WWI, England's school system was supposedly considered the best in the world, and the Japanese wanted to emulate the best of Western academic traditions.

Just like the Japanese to take a foreign concept and make it better. There can be little doubt that Japanese school girls are far cuter than British school girls (apologies to any Anglophiles out there).

Posted By ThaiGuy on 29 Apr 2010 11:08 AM

Posted By Dori on 29 Apr 2010 11:03 AM
I'm still curious if a girl ever dared to wear a boy's uniform, especially when winter comes.

haha, no way!! If anything, the skirts get shorter in the winter at least for HS age.  Even the young boys wear shorts in the winter.  This is one Japanese custom I can't figure out, I feel so bad for these young kids shivering in the cold while mom is dressed up all nice & warm.

I know!! I feel so sorry for them!!! While I think the outfits are cute and if I was born and raised here I would wear them. But seriously in winter?!?! I wouldn't care what the school system would say, I'm staying warm and wearing the boy's uniform! This is not the desert!